Nation IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : Astronauts Praised for Science Work

As Endeavour’s six astronauts packed up for the trip home, the shuttle mission operations director gave it an A+ for its 10-day Earth surveying mission, as “a perfect platform for doing science.” If today’s landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center are missed, the space shuttle, which blasted off April 9, has enough supplies to stay aloft for three more days. Forecasts called for acceptable weather in the seaside runway, with light winds and a slight chance of offshore rain. A $366-million set of radar instruments was to be shut down about seven hours before landing. Officials said the radar has captured all of the planned views of Earth and will be used to study the environment, the forest conditions and the mountain, river and desert geology.